Valencia Man Accused Of Making Online Threats Against Children Out On Bail

SAN FERNANDO (CBS) — The 21-year-old Valencia man who allegedly wrote on a website posting that he would “not mind murdering children” posted $100,000 bail Thursday and was released from jail.

On Wednesday, the prosecution lost a bid to have Eric Ting Yee’s bail set at $1 million.

Yee, a former Yale University student, awaits arraignment Oct. 16 in San Fernando Superior Court.

He is facing a felony count of possession of an illegal weapon — namely a H&K M-94 assault rifle.

Yee was arrested about 5 p.m. Monday at his parents’ home in the 23000 block of Edenton Place.

His parents’ home overlooks Santa Clarita Elementary School and Arroyo Seco Junior High School.

His 62-year-old father, Roger Manfoo Yee, is also charged with a weapon possession count, but has yet to be arrested.

Deputy Joshua Dubin said the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station would be “increasing patrols and visibility around all our local schools and will have deputies specifically assigned during school hours today and tomorrow at Arroyo Seco Junior High School and Santa Clarita Elementary School.”

Dubin added that “school resources deputies are working closely with school administrators to address … safety and parental concerns.

Investigators are not aware of any threats or concerns regarding any of our Santa Clarita schools. All schools are following normal class schedules.”

The firearms involved in the case remain in possession of the sheriff’s department, Dubin said.

Yee allegedly made the posting in response to an ESPN story last Thursday about $279 Nike shoes named for basketball star LeBron James.

An ESPN spokesman said the story generated some 3,000 comments, some of which mentioned the possibility of children being killed over the pricey shoes.

Sheriff’s deputies said they were notified about the post by police in Bristol, Conn., where ESPN is headquartered.